Food Mix for Broad breasted Bronzen turkeys

[Mrs.Johnson]

Good Evening,

I have 4 Broad breasted Bronze turkey....they don't like the all flock pellets, chick starter, scratch feed....they LOVE meal worms and black fly larva....which is what I've been feeding (it started as a snack but since they stopped eating the other stuff). They will PICK the bugs out of the feed if I try to mix it together. They are free range, but I want to make sure they are getting the nutrition they need. They are pets and wont be eaten, so I'm not trying to fatten them up just keep them healthy. They are about 3-4 months old. Thank you for your suggestions.

Thanks,
Sally

 

[nuthatched]

Stop the bugs and scratch, no snacks or treats. They'll eat their feed eventually, any healthy animal will. they're just spoiled by tasty treats.

 

[Molpet]

To try keeping BB diet and exercise is necessary. They get too big for their legs and heart.
Breeders don't feed them every day and restrict the days they do.

 

[R2elk]

Good Evening,

I have 4 Broad breasted Bronze turkey....they don't like the all flock pellets, chick starter, scratch feed....they LOVE meal worms and black fly larva....which is what I've been feeding (it started as a snack but since they stopped eating the other stuff). They will PICK the bugs out of the feed if I try to mix it together. They are free range, but I want to make sure they are getting the nutrition they need. They are pets and wont be eaten, so I'm not trying to fatten them up just keep them healthy. They are about 3-4 months old. Thank you for your suggestions.

Thanks,
Sally

If you want them to live long healthy lives, cut out the chick starter, mealworms and larva now. If you can get it, switch their feed to Purina's 12% protein game bird maintenance feed and let them have free range time.

 

[Mrs.Johnson]

To try keeping BB diet and exercise is necessary. They get too big for their legs and heart.
Breeders don't feed them every day and restrict the days they do.

What is bb diet?

 

[R2elk]

What is bb diet?

Low protein and low fat.

 

[Molpet]

What is bb diet?

BB is broad breasted
Here's a rescue's guide with some of the issues
https://opensanctuary.org/large-breed-turkey-special-care-considerations/

 

[Mrs.Johnson]

Awesome! Thanks, they free range all day everyday and go up at night for protection. I used starter feed ( i had it on hand for some ducklings and goslings) trying to get them to eat something when they stopped eating all flock. Thank you guys for the info. They were not happy about no bugs this morning